The first phase of the plastic bag ban is now in effect in Beverly Hills.

BEVERLY HILLS—The City of Beverly Hills has implemented the first phase of its ban on the use of single-use plastic shopping bags beginning on July 1. The ban would require five large stores in the region to provide their own reusable bags or purchase paper bags.

According to a press release from Therese Kosterman, Public Information Officer for the City of
Beverly Hills, the City Council voted unanimously in April to implement the ban in phases that were modeled after the
County of
Los Angeles ordinance.

The first phase of the ban affects supermarkets and large, retail stores with pharmacies. In the City, those stores include Whole Foods, Pavillion’s, two Rite-Aid pharmacies and a CVS Pharmacy. The second phase is set to begin on January 1, 2015, which will ban the use of small bags at smaller grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and food markets. The new ordinance is asking stores to provide their customers with recyclable paper bags at a cost of 10 cents each. Stores can provide customers with reusable bags for sale or no charge.

The City has already begun distributing reusable shopping bags to residents at a variety of community events. The free reusable bags are available to residents (one bag per customer) while supplies last. Bags can be picked up from July 7 to July 11 at the
PublicWorksBuilding located at 315 N. Foothill Road between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For additional information call 310-285-2467.